Track ccnstruction



Aug. 14, 1923. )3.9464975 H. H. DIEHL TRACK CONS TRUCTI ON Filed March22. 1923 Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

UNITED T FFEQE.

HERMAN-H. DIEHL, 0F HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA. ASSIGNOR T0 THE WETVIRGINIA RAIL COMPANY, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATIGN 0FWEST VIRGINIA.

TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 22, 1923.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN H. DIEHL, a citizenof the United States, `residing at Huntington, in the county of Cabelland State of lfVest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Track Constructions, of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the securing of rails to tiesespecially 1n the case of track-construction for use in mines andgeneral construction work.

Certain of my objects are to provide a novel, simple and economicalarrangement of parts; to provide a construction which will permit of therails being readily and quickly secured in place on the t1es and removedtherefrom when desired; to provide on the clip a rail-gauging portion soformed as to insure, under all conditions, the proper gauging 0f therail: and to provide a construction which will permit of the -assemblywith rails securely held in place on ties, of extension rails laid ontheir sides parallel with relation to the fixed rails, in accordancewith the practice known as balling the rails. Y I

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a 'track-construction embodyingmy improvements, the tie forming a part thereof being broken awaybetween its ends. Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken at the line 2 onFig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, an extension rail,shown by dot-- ted lines, being shown as applied to the rail Fsetzled tothe tie, in accordance Wirth the balling practice above referred to.Figure 3 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the structurebeing viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a bottomplan view of one of the similar pivoted rail-flange-engagingclip-plates;

and Figure 5, aI view in front elevation ofl the clip of Fig. 4.

ln the particular, illustrated. embodiment of my invention the tie isrepresented at 5 and 'the parallel rails superposed thereon, at'6. Thetie shown is of metal shaped to present the parallel ribs 7 extendinglengthwise of the tie, the side-walls of the ribs 7, and represented at8, being prefer-ably relativelyv abrupt. as shown. The tie is providelladjacent the inner flanges 9 of the Serial No. 826,@39.

I rails, with stationary abutments 10 which 1 oted between its ends tolthe tie, the pivoting means beingr preferably an ordinary rivet,represented at 15, wh1ch extends through an opening 16 in the clip 14,preferably midway between its lateral edges and an opening 17 in one ofthe ribs 7 preferably midway between the lateral edges of the latter.The end of the clip 14 adjacent the rail is so shaped as to adapt it,when in railsecuring position, to overlap the flange of the rail withwhich it engages as shown in Figs. l and 2, this being preferablyaccomplished by forming this end of the clip with an upwardly-deflectedportion represented at 18, and as a desirable means for gauging therails and holding them from spreading. a depending lug 19 is formed onthe portion 18 of the clip which engages, the outer edge of the flange13 as shown, the lug 19, which extends only part way across theclip.terrninating at one side thereof in a depending flange 19a. The endof the clip opposite that which overlaps the railflange is provided onits under side, at its longitudinal edges` with a pair of dependinglrparallel ribs 20 spaced -apart a distance substantially equal to thewidth of the upper surface of the tie-rib 7 as shown in Fig. 3. theprovision of the ribs 2O causing the, clip ifi to presentI a channel 21along its under-side. The outer end of the clip 14 is provided with anupwardly-extending lu`r 22 shown as integral with the body of the clipand preferably formed by upwardly deflecting this end of the clip.

The clip. which is preferably rolled to `shape. is formed preferably ofsteel, whereby it is caused to be springy, and the rivet l5 extendsloosely through the clip. the parts beingr preferably so proportionedthat the clip may freely rotate on the tie when the rail. is not inplace thereon, but when a rail 1s positioned against the adjacentabutment 10 it will require the application of considerable force to theclip in a direction for rotating the clip, and the flexing of the clipagainst its inherent springiness, to rotate the clip from a positioncrosswise of the tie into a position in which it extends parallel withthe ribs 7 and engages the rail, the flexing referred to occurring inthe riding of the ribs 20 against the rib 7 of the tie with which itcooperates, and the riding of the portion 18 against the inclined topsurface of the rail-flange 13, it being understood that when the clipreaches a position in which it extends parallel withv the rib 7 vitsouter end `springs downwardly to receive the rib T within the channel 2lof the clip, thereby locking the clip against accidental rotation out ofrail-liange-engaging position. Furthermore the parts are so proportionedthat the clip when in raillange-engaging position, as shown, will, underits spring action, bear down at its opposite ends against the railflange and the tie, respectively. In the positioning of the clip 14 asstated the lug 19a extends into the groove presented between the twotie-ribs 7 and extends adjacent a side of the one of the ribs 7 to whichit is pivoted, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The clips, in practice, would ordinarily be driven intorail-flange-engaging position, by striking the clips with a hammer, theupwardly-extending lug 22 affording a part to be struck, and permittingthe workmen to more readily direct the hammer blows against the cli forthe purpose stated.

It is desira le, especially in track-construction for mines, that thetie and railsecuring means be provided as a unit, in

assembled relation, as distinguished from providing the tie and securingmeans as separated parts requiring assembly in securing a rail to thetie, it being understood from the foregoing that my improvedconstruction permits of the following of the above-referred-to -desiredpractice, as the clips and abutments may be furnished in assembledposition on the tie and when a track is to be laid`l all that isrequired is the application of the rails to the ties and the rotating ofthe pivoted clips to rail-flangeengaging position. It will furthermorebe noted that in the disassembling of the rails and ties all that isrequired to release the rails from the ties is to drive the clips out ofrail-engaging position.

It will be noted that, in the particular construction shown, the inneredge of the abutment is relatively widely spaced from the verticalflange of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2, this permitting of the ballingof the rail, as it permits the head of the rail, when the latter is laidon its side as shown by dotted lines in this figure, to be receivedbetween the abutment 12 and the rail-web. the flange of' the railresting on the tie. Rails positioned at opposite sides of the fixedrails, as shown. in dottedlines, of' one rail in Fig. 2. may be readilyslid along the fixed rails to the desired degree of protrusion beyondthe latter in which positiofn their webs afford a trac-k upon which thewheel-flanges run after the wheels pass beyond the ends of the fixedrails. In this connection it may be stated that the abutment 12 servesto hold the balled rail in place, this abutment being preferably of theform shown as thereby it serves in a highly effective manner-not only asan abutment for the rail secured to the tie but also as an abutment forthe vballed rail.

The depending lug 19a serves as a railfrauging means, shown assupplementing the gauging portion 19, and its purpose is to positivelyprevent, under all conditions, the lateral displacement of the rail onthe tie out of the proper gauged position. In this connection it may bestated that, under some conditions, as for example by corrosion of theparts, the rail-flange might enter between the tie and the lip 19, wherethe lip 19 only is provided, and byexerting a wedging action on the clipmove laterally out of gauged position, but by providing the lug 19a, theaction above referred to is prevented and the rail is maintained in proe1' gauged position at all times.

hile I have illustrate-d and described a i particular constructionembodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending tolimit it thereto as the same may be vario'usly modified and alteredwithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. In this connection itwill be understood that a plurality of the clips 14 may be used at eachend of the tie, instead of one as shown, and that the position of theclips 14 and abutments 10 may be reversed, viz., by locating theabutments 10 at the outer flanges of the rail and the clips `11 at theinner flanges thereof.

`presenting downwardly-extending, relatively abrupt surfaces spacedapart, the said surfaces on said tie and clip interlockingly engagingwhen said clip is in rail-flange-engaglng position.

V2. In track-construction, the combination of a tie presentingupwardly-extending, relatively abrupt, surfaces spaced apart, and aspring clip, having a railflange-engaging portion, pivoted between itsends on said tie and presenting downwardly-extending, relatively abruptsurfaces spaced apart, the said surfaces on said tie and clipinterlockingly engaging when said clip is in railfiange-engagingposition.

3. In track-construction, the combination of a tie and a clip pivotedbetween its ends on said tie and having a rail-flange-engaging portionat one end and an upwardly-extending ortion at its opposite end, saidtie and clip aving portions which interlock against imposed resistancein the rotation of the clip to rail-flange-engaging position.

4. In track-construction, the combination of a tie, and a spring clippivoted between its ends on said tie and having a rail-Hangeengagingportion at one end and an upwardly-extending portion at its oppositeend, said tie and clip presenting portions which interlock in therotation of said clip to railflange-engaging position, and the parts.being so proportioned that said clip is required to flex in rotating itto rail-ange-engaging position.

5. In track-construction, the combination of a tie presentingupwardly-extending surfaces spaced apart, and a spring clip pivotedbetween its ends on said tie and having a rail-flange-engaging portionat one en and parallel depending ribs at its opposite end adapted tointerlock with said surfaces of said tie when said clip is inrail-flange engaging position, the underside of said clip between itsends at the pivoted point of said clip being of a thicknesssubstantially equal to the thickness of said clip at the ribs thereon.

6. A rail-clip comprising a body containing a pivoting opening betweenits ends, the under surface of said body at one end being in a higherplane than the under surface of said body at said opening and having adepending boss, the under surface of said body at its opposite end beingformed with depending ribs spaced apart and extending lengthwise of saidclip and presenting a channel, said portion of the clip in which saidopening is located being of substantially uniform thickness throughoutits cross-sectional area and of a thickness substantially equal to thethickness of the clip at its ribs.

7. In track-construction, the combination of a tie, and a spring clippivoted between its ends on said tie and havin a rail-flangeengagingportion at one en said tie and clip presenting portions at its oppositeends which interlock in the rotation of said clip torail-fiange-engaging position, and the parts being so proportioned thatsaid clip is required to flex in rotating it to rail-flangeengagingposition.

8. In track-construction, the combination of a tie presentingupwardly-extending surfaces spaced apart, and a spring clip pivotedbetween its ends on said tie and having a iail-fiange-engaging portionat one end and parallel depending ribs at its opposite ends adapted tointerlock with said surfaces of said tie when said clip is inrail-ilange-engaging position.

9. In track-construction, the combination of a tie` and a spring pivotedbetween its ends on said tie and having a rail-flange-engaging portionat one end provided with a track-gauging portion, said tie and clippresenting portions at opposite sides of said pivot which interlock inthe rotation of said clip to rail-Hange-engaging position, one of thesaid interlocking portions of said clip having a depending flangelocated adjacent a lateral edge of said track-gauging portion.

10. In track-construction, the combination of a tie presentingupwardly-extending surfaces spaced apart, and a spring clip pivotedbetween its ends on said tie and having a rail-fiange-engaging portionat one end and parallel depending ribs at its opposite end adapted tointerlock with said surfaces of said tie when said clip is inrail-flange-engaging position, said clip being provided adjacent itsrail-flange-engaging portion with a depending flange which, when saidclip is in railflange-engaging position. interlocks with one of saidsurfaces of said tie.

11. A rail-clip provided with a. rail-flangeengaging portion having adepending railgauging portion, and a depending Harige located adjacent alateral edge of said railgauging portion.

' spring rail-clip having a railiange-engaging portion provided with adepending rail-gauging portion and -a depending flange adjacent alateral edge of said rail-gauging portion, said clip eing provided atits opposite end with means adapting lthe clip to interlock with a tieto which it is applied.

13. A spring rail-clip having a raillange-engaging portion provided witha depending rail-gauging portion and a depending tlange adjacent 4alateral edge of said rail-gauging portion, said clip being provided atits opposite end with depending ribs extending lengthwise of the clip,for the purpose set forth.

14. A spring rail-clip having a railflange-engaging portion providedwith a depending rail-gauging portion extending part way only acrosssaid clip and a depending Hange adjacent a lateral ed e of saidrail-gauging portion, said clip eilig provided at its opposite ends withdepending ribs extending lengthwise of the clip, for the purpose setforth.

15. A rail-clip provided with a rail-Hangeengaging portion having arail-gauging portion ya part of which extends above the under side ofthe body of the clip and is adapted to extend directly above the tio icaof the rSt-referred-to part and ext-ends below the plane of the portionof the tie upon which the rail rests.

17. ln track Construction. the combination with a. tie, and :1 railthereon. of clip pivotull'v mounted on the tie and havin a rail gaugingportion which extends boti above :intl helow the plaine of the portionof the tie upon which the rail rests when the clip 20 in rotated torail-vau ing position.

F, MAN H. DIEHL.

